Knee protector



' y 1947- M. PATTERSON 2, 23,849

' KNEE PROTECTOR I Filed Jan. 26,4945 I INVENTOR v LOLA M. PATTERSON,

ATTORNEYS Patented July 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to covers or protectors intended primarily forprotection of portions of the body particularly subject to injury, suchas the knee or elbow.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pad or protector that maybe easily and quickly attached to and detached from the knee or elbow.

Another object is to provide a pad which, when properly positioned uponthe knee or elbow, is securely held in place, while providing effectiveprotection.

A further object is to provide a pad that is moisture-proof, durable,that may be worn without discomfort, that is neat and pleasing inappearance, and, most important of all, that fully protects the knee orelbow against injury and disorders such as housemaids knee, common amongthose who do a great deal of work upon their knees.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of one of my pads attached to the knee ofa user.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a pad constructed according to myinvention and showing particularly the protecting pad, the attached flapand the attaching strips.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the pad shown at Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view of a modified form in which the pad is curved in onedimension toconform to the configuration of the limb.

Figure 5 is a view showing the protective pad in use as when kneeling.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification wherein the outercovering or casing forms a pocket or compartment wherein resilient orother soft protecting materials such as sponge rubber or kapok, may beinserted and retained, which materials may, at the same time be easilyremoved for replacement or cleaning.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals identify corresponding partsthroughout, A identifies the legs of a user and to which my protectingpad has been attached. This pad consists, in general, of a main sectionor cushion III of a Width sufficient to extend a substantial distanceover and about the knee or elbow, and of a length sufficient to providea portion Illa fully covering and protecting the knee or elbow and, atthe same time, providing a supporting and attaching flap II'Ib.Preferably, but not necessary, section I may consist of fabricimpregnated-with rubber or other material so as to be waterproof andinsectproof while at the same time highly resistant to wear.

I 'If desired, a layer of material especially resistant to wear, may beattached in any desired manner to the outer surface of portion Illa.

A pad II of soft, resilient protective material is attached to one sideof portion Illa and may consist of side sections Na and a bottom sectionI Ib firmly bound and secured to the portion Illa of main section ID asby sewing.

A body-attaching strip of material I2 has its ends attached to oppositesides of pad I I adjacent the outer end thereof, while a second strip ofmaterial I3 has its ends secured to the side edges of flap or portion I0h adjacent the free end thereof. These strips are preferably of elasticmaterial and are of a length such that, combined with the width of thesections to which they are attached, they form loops adapted to encircleand snugly fit the adjacent limb of the wearer. If desired, these stripsmay be made adjustable as by the use of clasps or buckles.

Figure 4 shows a modification wherein two opposed end section I la arecurved whereby the pad is arcuate in a plane transverse to and snuglyfits the limb of the user. In other respects the construction is thesame as in the species of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 shows the pad in the position it assumes when the user iskneeling and it will be noted that, in such position flap IIIb extendswell up beyond the joint and not only aids in preventing moisture anddirt from entering between the pad and limb of the user, but alsoretains the pad in position by causing the retaining strap I3 to bepositioned well up on the limb.

At Figure 6 I have shown a modification in which the parts are generallyof the same shape and configuration as in the species of Figures 1 to 4,inclusive, and thus have been given corresponding numerals as in Figures1 to 4. However, one end section I la, of Figures 1 to 4, is replaced bya fiap or section I4 secured along one edge to main section III and of awidth sufiicient to overlap bottom section b as indicated at I la. Thisoverlapping portion is secured to bottom section III) by any suitablemeans such as snap fasteners I5 or any other releasable fastener such asa zipper, to thereby form a chamber or pocket within which may be fitteda pad of resilient material such as sponge rubber. By this arrangement,the flap may be opened to remove the pad of resilient material thereinwhereby the disassembled parts may be readily cleaned and either partmay be replaced without replacement of the other.

The use and operation of my pad will be obvious from the foregoingdescription. It will be noted that the section lllb extends to a pointremote from the joint portion of the user and not only aids in affordingprotection against the entrance of moisture between the protector andthe covered body area, but also greatly adds to the comfort of thewearer, since the elastic flap I3 i thereby prevented from displacementint the crease formed by doubling r flexing of the protected joint,whereby the pad does not moveor creep upon flexure of thejoint.

The same features are present in the species of Figure 6, with the addedadvantages that the pocket formed by the portions Illa, Ha, Nb and flapl4, may be opened to remove the pad or. filling of sponge rubber orother resilientt fl late rial contained therein, after whichthef'abricportions may be easily cleaned or laundered. Eur'r' thermore,the pad may be transferred and use d repeatedly after the fabric orcovering parts have Worn out.

It Willbe understood that my protector Willv ordinarily be sold and usedinpairs andthat they will be especially useful for maids, gardeners,garage; men and others who do a considerable amount of work ina kneelingposition. Not only do theyprotect those portions of: the limb otherwiseexposed to injury but they also protect the hosiery against wear andtear and greatly lengthen its life.

While I have selected a preferred-form of my invention for illustration;it is to-be understood that-I: reserve all such modifications,alterations and: substitutions as fallw-ithinthe' scope of thesubjoined-claims.

Having nowdescribed the invention, what I,

claim'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 Ina padfbrprotecting. the body, an elongatedstrip of material havingend edges, sectionsof material secured to said! strip to form a pocketover substantially one-half the area ofsaid strip,- said; pocket beingcompletely closed by said material; protective padding within saidpocket, and elastic straps secured to said Dad adjacent the saidendedges of said strip.

2; In a protective pad, an elongated main section of flexible material,end and side edges of material secured to said main section andextending over approximately one, half the areaof saidmain'section toform apocket completely closed onallsidesexcept one and adapted-toreceive apad; o f, cushioning material, a; flap secured to said mainsection and completely closing the open side of'saidpocket,meansflpermanently attaching the free end" ofsaid flap to the sidesection of'said" pocket, and elastic band means secured to the remoteends of said main section and pocket, respectively.

3. In a protective pad, sideand end sections of flexible material havingtheir edges permafrom said second flap, and body-attaching strap meanssecured to said second flap at its end remote'from said pocket.

4. Ina protective pad, an elongated main section of flexible material,end and side edges of material secured to said main section andextending. over approximately one-half the area of said main section toform a pocket, a body of material permanentlysecured to said end andside edges tocompletely close the pocket, cushioning material in saidcompletely closed pocket and elastic band means secured to the remoteends of said main section and pocket respectively.

5. Ina protective pad, an elongated main sectionof flexible material,end and side members of the same material permanently secured to saidmain section and extending transversely thereof to form a pocket, acover for the pocket permanently secured to said end and side members,said cover being made of the same mateelastic band means secured to saidmain, sec-v tion and pocket respectively.

LOLA M. PATTERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

UNITED} STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,308,109 Peugh July 1, 1919 1,792,048 Swenson Feb. 10;1931 1336537" Rylander V Nov. 21, 1922 2368 433 Terry Jan. 30; 1945'

